Life Cycle of a Penis (cont.)

Penis Size.Weight gain is common as men grow older. As fat accumulates on
the lower abdomen, the apparent size of the penis changes. "A large prepubic fat
pad makes the penile shaft look shorter," says Ira Sharlip, MD, clinical
professor of urology at the University of California, San Francisco.

"In some cases, abdominal fat all but buries the penis," says Ronald Tamler,
MD, PhD, co-director of the Men's Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital in New
York City. "One way I motivate my
overweight patients is by telling them that
they can appear to gain up to an inch in size simply by losing weight."

In addition to this apparent shrinkage (which is reversible) the penis tends
to undergo an actual (and irreversible) reduction in size. The reduction -- in
both length and thickness -- typically isn't dramatic but may be noticeable. "If
a man's erect penis is 6 inches long when he is in his 30s, it might be 5 or
5-and-a-half inches when he reaches his 60s or 70s," says Goldstein.

What causes the penis to shrink? At least two mechanisms are involved,
experts say. One is the slow deposition of fatty substances (plaques) inside
tiny arteries in the penis, which impairs blood flow to the organ. This process,
known as atherosclerosis, is the same one that contributes to blockages inside
the coronary arteries -- a leading cause of heart attack.

As penis size changes, so do the testicles. "Starting around age 40, the
testicles definitely begin to shrink," says Goldstein. The testicles of a
30-year-old man might measure 3 centimeters in diameter, he says; those of a
60-year-old, perhaps only 2 centimeters.

Curvature. If penile scar tissue accumulates unevenly, the penis can become
curved. This condition, known as Peyronie's disease, occurs most commonly in
middle age. It can cause painful erections and make intercourse difficult. The
condition may require surgery.

Sensitivity. Numerous studies have shown that the penis becomes less
sensitive over time. This can make it hard to achieve an erection and to have an
orgasm. Whether it renders orgasm less pleasurable remains an open question.

If there's a silver lining to these presumably unwelcome changes, it's this:
Experts say these changes need not ruin your erotic life. One recent study
involving 2,213 men in Olmstead County, Minn., showed significant declines in
erectile function, libido, and ejaculatory function -- but only moderate
decreases in sexual satisfaction. "Older men may be less likely to perceive
these declines as a problem and be dissatisfied," concluded the study's authors.